One of my favorite folkie singer-songwriters is Cheryl Wheeler. She's funny, profound, moving and glorious by turns. I recently picked up a CD of hers just for one song that I've loved for years, which is not only a vaguely macabre hoot but also has one of the most cheerful upbeat tunes you'll hear. Check it out: Estate Sale

If you like that piece, ( Read more... )

I really want to go to Kingdom 12th Night. We have a fabulous joint concert with Thescorre's choir, Ravensong, planned, and everyone in both choirs is so looking forward to it. And of course I was looking forward to the event in general, since I haven't been to an event since October. I was planning to day trip, since it's normally an easy two-hour ( Read more... )

Work continues to be crazy. Been putting in lots of overtime (for me, though it pales compared to some of my friends, but then they don't have kids to drive to and from summer camp, feed and chivvy through chores and bed time etc.). This has eaten into my time to work on the old house, and forget about any Pennsic prep or additonal unpacking at the ( Read more... )

I spent this weekend attending the wedding of some friends down in DC,
( Read more... )

Last week I discovered a website with music from the 2002 World Choral Spectacular, courtesy of my sweetie pointing me to a link elsewhere on that website. The concert I'm currently listening to is of the World Youth Choir, which is composed of 100 teenagers from all over the world. The singers must be phenomenally good individually, and of course ( Read more... )

I've been thinking about possible themes for the Debatable Choir's next concert for Pennsic. I recently looked through some new-to-me music (thanks, giddysinger!) and while there were some serious pieces that very much appealed to me (Byrd's "Haec Dies," wow!), I did find an idea coalescing around songs about rogues and reprobates. Scum, scoundrels, scalawags ( Read more... )

I could really do without the sore throat this week.

OTOH, while I know I should be panicking about Pennsic only being two weeks away, for the most part I'm not.  Whether that's because I still haven't absorbed it in my gut or because I know I can get everything done in time, I'm not sure. :-)

Still to do for Pennsic, besides generic packing, all I ( Read more... )

Daffodils, narcissus and hyacinths are all blooming in my garden.  I can't wait for enough hyacinths to bloom so I don't feel guilty in cutting one, so its powerful, heavenly scent can fill the house.  The white dogwoods (I think that's what they are) on East Liberty Blvd. are in their spring wedding finery, and the forsythia down the street are ( Read more... )

I'm very tired, but it's been a good evening.

Tonight was my first night back in the director's - um, saddle, or whatever - with the Debatable Choir since 
( Read more... )

Did anybody else listen to this week's Thistle and Shamrock?

They were playing Gaelic Klezmer music.

I kid you not.

To quote their website: "This Week: Musical Meltdown... What happens when you combine Irish and Jewish music? You get Ceilizemer. And this is the name of just such a fusion outfit from Northern California, but it would also have ( Read more... )